Steps for Importing Into Canada

Before importing commercial goods, the importer of record must obtain a Business Number from Canada Revenue Agency and register it for an import/export account. A Business Number or BN is commonly required for many of the transactions your business may already be doing such as payroll, payment of income taxes and GST. 

Using your BN you can add an import/export account to it by filling out the appropriate forms with Canada Revenue Agency.

 

A Customs Broker is licensed by Canada Customs and is able to act on your behalf in all customs related matters.   Using the services of a Customs Broker like Frontier helps to ensure that your shipments will be processed through Canada Customs as quickly, as accurately and as cost effectively possible.

 

Another key element for successfully importing into Canada is appropriate documentation. Having detailed, accurate shipping documents can have a significant impact on your release times as well as reduce the risk of import penalties and other compliance issues.

 

All shipments entering into Canada must be accompanied by either a Canada Customs Invoice (CCI) or a Commercial Invoice. You may require a NAFTA Certificate of Origin is your goods qualify under the NAFTA legislation.  

 

 

You must report all shipments entering into Canada at the time of their arrival. This can be done electronically or by submitting a Cargo Control Document. Generally this is done for you on behalf the carrier moving your shipment when they reach the point of entry. Once this occurs then the release process begins.

 

Once all of the shipment details have been reviewed your Customs Broker prepares a final accounting package for Canada Customs and pays, on your behalf, any duties and/or taxes owing.

Canada Customs requires that you keep all your related records (either electronically or a paper copy) for a period of six years following the year the goods were imported.